Long ago, crossing the plains was dangerous due to the never-ending storm, until an Al Bhed named Bilghen set up several towering lightning rods. Ironically, he was in the process of setting up the final tower when he was struck by lightning and killed. In Final Fantasy X, the plains are still treacherous, but the towers draw most of the lightning away.

The plains are named after High Summoner Gandof who removed the threat of Qactuars from the Djose continent by driving them to the Thunder Plains and sealing them into Qactuar Stones.

Contents

Story

Final Fantasy X

Rikku's fear of lightning.

The party crosses the plains on Yuna's pilgrimage to Zanarkand. Rikku is reluctant to pass the plains due to a severe case of astraphobia, eventually becoming so terrified she collapses on the ground and seizes Tidus by the leg. They decide to camp at the travel agency where Yuna books a room to herself. Hearing voices emanating from her room Tidus becomes curious, but when he tries to eavesdrop he falls into Yuna's room as the door was not closed. Yuna was watching the sphere given to her by Jyscal Guado's unsent form, and makes up her mind to marry Seymour.

Final Fantasy X-2

Following the start of the Eternal Calm, the Al Bhed have repaired the lightning towers to make the area safe for travelers, although the repairs have not completely stabilized them. Cid comes to the Thunder Plains after being admonished by Yuna, Rikku and Paine at the Zanarkand Ruins, and spends his time in a silent reverie. He wanders into one of the newly discovered caves on the Thunder Plains and is injured, but the Gullwings save him and bring him on board their airship. The girls may also run into Lian and Ayde on the Thunder Plains in the southern section.

The clouds parting.

After Spira falls into turmoil the leaders of the three leading factions of the world go missing causing further conflict. The Gullwings want to do something to pacify the citizens of Spira and organize the "1000 Words" concert where Yuna is to sing on the deck of the Celsius on the Thunder Plains. They get Tobli from the Moonflow to promote the event and gather a crowd.

The only recorded moment of the endless storm across the Thunder Plains ceasing is when Yuna performs her song. Shortly after the song starts the rain stops, and by the end, the clouds have parted and the sun shines down on the barren plains. Yuna's Songstressdressphere interacts with the sphere display Shinra had made for the concert, displaying Lenne's final memories with Shuyin for everyone to see. Lenne's spirit appears by Yuna's side and joins in a duet with her, before disappearing. Yuna is emotionally drained after the experience and retreats to the Celsius cabin, and by the time she awakes, the storm has resumed. Now knowing of Lenne's true feelings, Yuna decides to descend to the Farplane and find Shuyin to tell him how much Lenne had loved him, in hopes of bringing a peaceful end to the Vegnagun conflict.

Spoilers end here.

Locations

Thunder Plains.

Thunder Plains - South

The journey from Guadosalam in the South can begin with some difficulty. The area is a barren wasteland with many water-filled craters made from the relentless thunder that strikes the plains.

All enemies aside from the Melusine and Buer in the South area use Thunder-elemental attacks almost exclusively, which hit hard. Lightning Ward is useful, but comes at a high price; eight Lightning Marbles can be obtained near the Farplane and can be used to create a Lightningproof armor to make a character virtually invincible in this area. NulShock and Ixion can also be used to afford the party easy travel through this first area.

Thunder Plains travel agency

Travelers can find respite from the storm here. The agency has rooms to stay and recover, as well as a shop that sells both items and weapons. The shop clerk Mifurey can be contracted into the Besaid Aurochs.

Thunder Plains - North

The north plains have a similar landscape to the south; barren, dark and no particular landmarks aside from the lightning rod towers. The enemies encountered here use fewer elemental abilities that can be easily negated. The party can expect to encounter a new enemy as well: the Iron Giant. It hits hard but is susceptible to Power Break and Sleep. It is here Yuna announces to the party her answer to Seymour's proposal.

The New Cave is located in the North section of the Thunder Plains area and can be accessed only in Chapter 5.

Shops

Final Fantasy X

From Rin's Travel Agency.*(Items before the airship can also be bought from Rin. Available only if the player speaks to Rikku, then Rin three times inside the travel agency before meeting Yuna in her room. They will no longer be available after meeting Yuna in her room.)

Quests

Final Fantasy X

Speaking to Rikku inside the travel agency before meeting Yuna in her room increases Rikku's affection value by eight.

After speaking to Rikku inside the agency, Rin enters the foyer. If Tidus speaks with him, Rin will ask "Would that be Sir Auron by any chance?" Replying "Nope, wrong guy" will increase Auron's affection value by eight.

As in every other location, when the party is spread out, the one Tidus talks to first gains affection points.

Lightning dodge

While on the Thunder Plains lightning can strike Tidus at any time, although the threat is increased when no towers are nearby. When the screen flashes white, if the player quickly presses , Tidus will jump out of the way of the impending lightning strike. If the player presses when there is no flash, Tidus will get struck by the next lightning strike. Getting struck by lightning incurs no loss of HP.

If Tidus dodges a certain number of lightning strikes in a row, a treasure chest will appear outside the travel agency. The player may only receive each prize once, but if they dodge a high number of lightning strikes, they will receive all the prizes up to and including the prize for the number of strikes they dodge. The counter will reset if the player gets struck by lightning, visits the screen in front of the travel agency, exits the Thunder Plains from either end, loads a save game, or selects the options "Play blitzball" or "Board airship" when examining a save sphere.

The player can keep track of their record by examining a book in the travel agency titled "All About Lightning". The book tracks how many lightning bolts struck towards Tidus, how many he dodged, and the most bolts he has dodged in a row.

If the player fled or defeated Dark Ixion in the first fight, there will be no lightning flashes in the Northern Plains until they have defeated Dark Ixion in the second fight. This also means that the Qactuar stones will not glow, and thus cannot be prayed at. This can only happen in the International, PAL, and HD Remaster versions.

The player can use the "crater trick" to facilitate the process. In the Thunder Plains - South, there is a crater that forces a lightning strike. This crater is just south of the agency next to a lightning tower between the two crevices on either side of the map. Every time Tidus steps into this crater after the first time, a bolt is guaranteed to come down. Knowing when the bolts will strike and how the game allows it to slightly preempt the flash by half a second or so, makes this minigame a lot easier. The player needs to move a short distance away for it to trigger again, but it's still only a few seconds between each dodge. One may not need to move away at all, but simply stand in the crater and be ready. It appears to take no more than a couple of seconds for a strike to hit. Additionally, if one stands on the "north" edge of the crater, dodges the first bolt, and lands still in the crater a second bolt will strike instantly, meaning one can do two at once. This makes for a very quick 200 dodges. It is advisable to have the No Encounters ability.

Qactuar stones

There are numerous stones dotted around the south and north areas of the Thunder Plains, that when prayed at, summon Qactuars to roam about the plains. In total there are two Qactuar stones in the south area, and six Qactuar stones in the north area. A stone is prayed at by pressing in front of it while it is glowing. If one prays at three different stones, a Qactuar Ghost will appear near the center of the southern Thunder Plains area. The player must then follow it to a broken tower in the southern section of the plains and pray at it. This will reveal a treasure chest containing Kimahri's Celestial Weapon, the Spirit Lance. The chest can only be unlocked if the party has the Celestial Mirror.

Dark Ixion

In the International, PAL, and HD Remaster versions, Dark Ixion can be fought on the plains. He is available after viewing the arrival cutscene in the Calm Lands. He is encountered twice, the first by talking to a Yevon soldier and after that, by finding him after a lightning strike, both occur in the northern section.

Final Fantasy X-2

Tower re-calibration

The lightning tower calibration minigame can be played in Chapter 2 and 3. To start, the player must talk to the Al Bhed Technician by the first tower twice. The player receives prizes in Chapter 5 depending on how many times they calibrated a tower (maximum is 30). Finishing this minigame gives no story completion %, nor is playing it required for an Episode Complete.

Chocobo treasures

Sending a chocobo to Thunder Plains to look for treasures finds the following items (depending on the chocobo's level):

During the first fight against Dark Ixion, if the player flees or defeats it, then all random encounters are suspended until they leave the area and return. During the second fight against Dark Ixion, all random encounters are suspended until it is defeated.